Five one-hundeedths to james k



(No Model W. H. RUSHPORTH.

Folding Ladder. No. 240,847. Fjgtented May 3,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. RUSHFoRTH, oF oAMnEN, NEW JERSEY, AsSIeNoR F FORTY- FIVE ONEHUNDREDTHS TO JAMEs K. STREET AND JOHN RURR, oF SAME LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,847, dated May 3, 1881.

r Application filed February 17, 1881-.- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY RUSH- FORTH, of Camden, New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Folding Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of portable ladders or those which both fold to a portable shape and extend so as to be adapted for use as step-ladders and as fire-escapes.

In'the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a Side elevation of a ladder embodying my invention extended as a step-ladder; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal Side elevation of the ladder closed up; I 5 Fig. 4, a transverse seotionof' the ladder open,

taken on the line a. a of Fig. 1, looking from above; Fig. 5, a similar view of the ladder shut, taken on the line b b of Fig. 3, looking from above; Fig. 6, anenlargcd vertical cen- 2o tral sectional elevation of the closed ladder of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 a perspective view of the lock which secures the closed ladder.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A B are respectively the right and .left hand posts of the ladder, and O the rungs. The posts are made of the form of long semicircular shells, which, when closed together, form a hollow tube, within which 0 the rungs fold. The posts are connected at their tops by a bridge, D, hinged to both, which,when the posts are folded,forms a continuation of the left-hand post, corresponding to a base-block, E, aflixed to the side of the bottom portion of said post, and which, when unfolded, forms the top step, being provided with a swiveled board, F, to constitute a flat standing-surface. The rungs are pivoted at G to the hollow interior of the posts. When folded the lower edge of the right-hand post comes in place over the top edge of the baseblock E and forms a continuation of the same,

so to speak, as shown in Fig. 3. When unfolded, the posts are retained apart by means of the hinged brace-piece H, Fig. 2, which folds into the recess I when the ladder is closed, as shown in Fig. 3.

J J are prop-pieces, pivoted at K to the posts, and folding into seats L L in the posts when the ladder is closed. These prop-pieces are held at the proper angle with respect to the posts by hooks M M, which likewise, when not in use, fold into. seats N N in the posts. The prop-pieces are slotted to receive folding cross-stays O O,pivoted thereto, and adapted, when unfolded, to be spread across from. proppiece to prop-piece, and thereby brace thelatter laterally. When spread their shouldered free endsPenter mortises in theopposite proppiece.

It are spurs, to insure permanence to the ladder when erected.

S S are pivoted pointed cleats, which are countersunk into the outer upper exterior of each post, and which, when swung out in the position shown in Fig. 1, serve as hooks, upon which the ladder can be hung from a window-sill, if desired, so as to constitute a fireescape.

T T are looks to secure the prop-pieces when folded, and U is a hook, Fig. 7, to bind the posts together and retain the entire device in its folded condition.

Such being the construction of my device, its operation will be understood from the foregoing description, and from a simple reference to the drawings.

When folded the ladder is no more than a round pole, which is both com pact and yet light enough to be portable. When extended it is rigidly braced, and although light is strong.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination, to form a folding ladder, of the posts A and B, bridge D, rungs O, base-block E, prop-pieces J J, and hooks M M, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the posts A and B, the prop-pieces J J fitted in the seats L L, and the hooks M M fitted in the seats N N,

as and for the purposes specified. 

